A national study conducted by the Union Ministry of Forest, Environment and Climate Change states that there are more than 230 leopards in North Bengal and the population of the animals has increased over the years.
On Thursday, the all-India assessment of leopards conducted in 2022 was published by the ministry. The report said that there are 233 leopards in the northern parts of Bengal.
“As per reports, the population has increased significantly. This is because in an earlier estimate made in 2018, the leopard population in North Bengal was 83. This means, the population has increased by 200 per cent,” said a senior official of the state forest department.
The report said the number of leopards in neighboring Assam increased from 47 to 74 during the same period, while the leopard population in Arunachal Pradesh increased from 11 in 20182 to 42 in 2022.
“The survey also said that leopard population outside protected areas has increased by 67 per cent. This shows that the habitat of leopards has reduced in the area,” said a source.
Forest officials said tea gardens, which are also known as leopard habitat, have not been counted.
“Leopards are often seen and trapped in tea gardens. Particularly during November and March, female leopards enter tea plantations to give birth to cubs. This is why it is necessary to include tea gardens, especially those near forests, in the census,” said Animesh Bose, a Siliguri-based wildlife conservationist.
Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife, North) Bhaskar J.V. Said that trap cameras were used to count the leopard.
“We think another 200 leopards live in the tea gardens. We will also try to include tea gardens in the process of counting leopards in North Bengal,” he said.
